19 April
Cornelis van Tienhoven, in his capacity as fiscal over the province of New Netherland and guardian of the authority and jurisdiction, conveyed and granted by commission of their High Mightinesses, the states general of the United Netherlands and the honorable lords directors of the Chartered West India Company, lords and patroons of New Netherland, to the highly esteemed lord Petrus Stuyvesant, director general, and the high councilors of New Netherland;
To you, Tomas Pele, or whomever else this may concern: having been ordered by the aforesaid lord director general and high councilors to proceed to and upon the lands of Vreedlant [ taken possession of ] during the time of the late lord director general [ Kieft, and bought from and paid for to the actual owners and proprietors, natives of this country ] as can be seen in the register [ of deeds by their signatures ], whereby [ I inform and warn you and ] all whom it may concern, herewith, that you and your associates have not only settled upon lands bought many years ago by the Dutch nation and possessed under patent by the late lord general Kieft, but that you also occupy it by usurpation contrary to the agreement of Hartford and the peace concluded between the two nations in Europe, against the will and consent of the director general and high councilors of New Netherland.
Therefore, the fiscal, on behalf of the aforesaid high and mighty states general and the honorable lords directors of the Chartered West India Company, does hereby notify you and all whom it may concern, by the bearer of this, Claes van Elslant, court messenger, summoned and commissioned for the execution hereof, on the aforesaid land purchased and long possessed, and done contrary to the agreement made at Hartford, not to continue with construction or with clearing of land, foddering of livestock or mowing of hay, or whatever else might in any way pertain to cultivation or agriculture, that in fifteen days after being served this summons you shall depart from the aforesaid lands located in the jurisdiction of New Netherland, with the people accompanying you, servants or slaves, furniture, livestock, tools and everything that you and your nation has brought there of your own, under penalty, if you or any of yours shall be found to have done contrary to this after the aforesaid period of time, that I, ex officio, shall be required to proceed against you and whomever it may concern as is appropriate; in the meantime, I protest against all damage, injury, mischief and trouble, which might arise as a result of your subsequent actions, declaring before God and the world to be innocent thereof.
Done at Amsterdam in New Netherland. Ady ut supra.
